Hospital mattress with articulated frame



May 2, 1967 M. N. JANAPOL 3,316,558

HOSPITAL MATTRESS WITH ARTICULATED FRAME Filed April 29, 1966 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

y 1967 M. N. JANAPOL 3,316,568

HOSPITAL MATTRESS WITH ARTICULATED FRAME Filed April 29, 1966 2Sheets-Sheet 2 6 I INVENTOR.

NEu/flv Al TwapaL MKJM United States Patent 3,316,568 HOSPITAL MATTRESSWITH ARTICULATED RAME This application is a continuation-in-part ofapplication Ser. No. 340,089, filed Jan. 24, 1964, entitled, ArticulatedHospital Bedding, now Patent No. 3,249,952.

This invention relates to bedding and is particularly concerned withmattresses or the like which must be articulate in order to comfortablyposition a person lying thereon, it being a general object of thisinvention to provide bedding of this character which articulates freelywhile maintaining uniform cushioning effect.

Articulated mattresses are commonly employed in hospitals and likeestablishments, being supported on adjustable beds that compriseselectively movable frame sections. The adjustable bed is not part ofthe present invention, but is the underlying support upon which thebedding of the present invention must freely articulate. In practice,adjustable beds have two or more relatively movable sections; and mostoften have three sections, a head section, a center section and a footsection. Ordinarily, these sections are simply pivotally joined one tothe 'other (in relation as indicated in FIG. 1) and the pivotal pointsof joinder are independently elevated by suitable means (not shown).

Bedding heretofore provided for use on adjustable beds of the typehereinabove referred to has been a subject of concern in institutionssuch as hospitals where patients are bedridden for long periods of time.In addition to the comfort of the patient hygiene must be considered andordinary bedding is not altogether conducive to either, since noprovision is made therein to properly control articulation andsimultaneously maintain uniform cushioning effect. More particularly,ordinary bedding or mattresses of this type are merely sectional, withsufiicient space between the springs or sections to permit the cover orpadding to bend. It is true that padding is ordinarily provided to spanbetween the sections, but continued and uncontrolled bending soonresults in deterioration of the bedding at the points of joinder. As aresult, such bedding does not provide a neat and predetermined bendline, but on the contrary is redundant with random folds and undesirablecreases accompanied by rapid breaking up of the padding structure.

An object of this invention is to provide an articulated mattress,wherein sections thereof which are movable relative to each other arehinged on axes in such a manner that the cushioning and/or paddingremains uniformly effective throughout the length of the mattress.

Another object of this invention is to provide an articulated mattress,wherein each section comprises a framework integrated with springs andadapted to be hingedly joined together by pivots without adverse effecton the cushioning and/or padding.

, The various objects and features of my invention will be fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of the typicalpreferred form and application of my invention, throughout whichdescription reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a unit of in a typical disposition.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the frame sections involved, themultiplicity of spring coils being removed.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are detailed sectional views taken as indicated by lines3-3 and 4-4 on FIG. 1.

FIGS. 5 through 7a are top and bottom views of the bedding shown3,316,568 Patented May 2, 1967 three frame sections involved in thepreferred form of the invention as indicated at each figure of thedrawings.

The mattress herein disclosed is a self-contained unit havingcharacteristics of an inner-spring mattress. However, special provisionis made for articulation at one or more transverse points, and since theinvention is primarily concerned with hospital beds and the like, it isthe standardized bed of this type to which I will hereinafter describemy mattress as being applied. The hospital bed which is most oftenemployed involves a plurality of three supporting sections, the headsection, the center section and the foot section. Therefore, I will nowdescribe the preferred form of my invention as it is applicable to sucha hospital bed and wherein my mattress also has corresponding sections,there being a head section A, a center section B, and a foot section C.In addition to the three general sections A, B and C, there is a toppadding D, a bottom padding E, and a cover F. As is clearly shown inFIG. 1 of the drawings, a characteristic positioning of the sections A,B and C places each of said sections on a substantial incline, therebeing sharp angular joinder at the top padding D between sections A andB while there is a gentle rounding at the opposite padding E, and therebeing sharp angular joinder at the bottom padding E between sections Band C while there is a gentle rounding at the opposite padding D.

While the joinder of the plurality of sections A, B and C is sharp andgentle as above described in the mattress constructed as hereinafterdescribed, such is not the case with ordinary bedding. The difference inordinary bed ding occurs mainly at the said sharp angular joinder whereno special provision is made to control bending.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 5a and to the head section A, aspring frame 10 is provided and which is adapted to function as asemi-rigid element giving permanent form to the section, as a resilientelement giving depressible support for the section, and as a couplerelement providing means of joinder to the next adjacent section. Inorder to perform the function of providing rigidity, the spring frame 10involves upper and lower marginal rails, there being upper side rails 11and 12 integrally joined by a transverse upper end rail 13, and therebeing lower side rails 14 and 15 integrally joined by transverse lowerend rails 16 and 17. In accordance with the improved invention theforwardly disposed epds of the upper rails 11 and 12 are free andindependent of each other. On the contrary, the rails 14-17 are rigidlyjoined beneath the free ends of rails 11 and 12 by the transverse rail,or spreader. The joinder of said rails are provided with right anglebends and each of which is gently rounded, as shown. It is significantthat the forwardly disposed ends of the bottom side rails 14 and 15remain free.

In order ot perform the depressible support function, the spring frame10 involves a set of coil springs 18, each of which is helically Woundin the usual manner and of hour glass shape. In practice, for example, abedding unit of the type under construction will be eighty inches inlength, thirty-seven inches in breadth, and siX and one-half inches inthickness. In this instance the head section A will be about thirty-sixinches in length, in which case coil springs 18 having an end diameterof four inches are employed in tangential relation to each other, therebeing eight coil springs across the frame section and nine coilslengthwise of the frame section. The said frame section rails and saidspring coils are suitably joined together as a unit, preferably by meansof small diameter helical coils known in the art as pigtails 60 andwhich are applied in the usual manner as best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and4.

In order to perform the function as a coupler element, the said freeends of the upper side rails 11 and 12 extend beyond the foremost row ofsprings 18. In accordance with the invention the forward extensions ofthe rails are straight and establish pivots with an axis of rotationdisplaced forwardly of the depressible support of section A. Inpractice, the frame elements are made of rod-like members that possesssubstantial resilience, and the terminal end of each extension is turnedor bent into an eye for the reception of a similar eye of the nextadjacent section B.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 6 and 6a and to the center section B,the spring frame is provided and which is adapted to function as asemi-rigid element giving permanent form to the section, as a resilientelement giving depressible support for the section, and as a couplerelement providing means of joinder to the next adjacent sections. Inorder to perform the function of providing rigidity, the spring frame 20involves upper and lower marginal rails, there being upper side rails 21and 22 and lower side rails 24 and 25. It is significant that both therearmost and foremost ends of the rails 21 and 22 are or remain free andindependent, except for the coupling function to be described; and it isalso significant that the foremost ends of the rails 24 and 25 are orremain free and independent. As is clearly illustrated, the foremostends of rails 21 and 22, and the rearmost ends of rails 24 and 25 areinwardly turned so as to eliminate sharp terminal ends at the mattressedge, and there is an intermediate transverse spreader 27 that isfastened to and extends between the rails 24 and 25 so as to maintainthe breadth of section B. The said rails 21, 22, 24 and 25 are effectiveas continuations of said respective rails 11, 12, 14, and 15.

In order to perform the depressible support function, the spring frame20 involves a set of coil springs 28 each of which is helically woundthe same as springs 18. In this instance the center section B will beabout seventeen inches in length, in which case there are eight coilsacross the frame section and four coils lengthwise thereof. The saidframe section rails and said spring coils are suitably joined togetheras a unit, preferably by means of small diameter helical coils orpig-tails 60 and which are applied in the usual manner.

In order to perform the function as a coupler element, the rearmost freeends of the upper side rails 21 and 22 extend beyond the rearmost row ofsprings 28, and also the foremost free ends of the lower side rails 24and 25 extend beyond the foremost row of springs 28. In accordance withthe invention the said rearward and forward extensions of the rails arestraight and establish pivots with axes of rotation displaced rearwardlyand forwardly of the depressible support of section B, respectively. Inpractice, the rod-like frame elements are resilient and the terminalfree end of each extension is turned or bent into an eye for thereception of a similar eye of the next adjacent section A and C.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 4, 7 and 7a and to the foot section C, aspring frame 30 is provided and which is adapted to function as asemi-rigid element giving permanent form to the section, as a resilientelement giving depressible support for the section, and as a couplerelement providingmeans of joinder to the next adjacent section. In orderto perform the function of providing rigidity, the spring frame 30involves upper and lower marginal rails, there being upper side rails 31and 32 integrally joined by transverse upper end rails 33 and 34, andthere being lower side rails 35 and 36 integrally joined by transverselower end rail 37. In accordance with the improved invention, the lowerside rails 35 and 36 have rearwardly disposed ends that are free andindependent of each other, and which are free except for the couplingfunction to be described. On the contrary, the rails 31-34 are ridgedlyjoined above the free ends of rails 35 and 36 by the transverse rail, orspreader 34. As is clearly illustrated, said rails 31, 32, 35 and 36 areeffective as continuations of said respective rails 21, 23, 24 and 25.

In order to perform the depressible support function,

the spring frame 30 involves a set of coil springs 38, each of which ishelically wound the same as springs 18 and 28. In this instance the footsection C will be about twenty-seven inches in length, in which casethere are eight coils across the frame section and seven coilslengthwise thereof. The said frame section rails and said spring coilsare suitably joined together as a unit, preferably by means of smalldiameter helical coils or pig-tails" 60 which are applied in the usualmanner.

In order to perform the function as a coupler element, the rearmost freeends of the lower side rails 35 and 36 extend beyond the rearmost row ofsprings 38. The rearward extensions of the rails are straight andestablish pivots with an axis of rotation displaced rearward of thedepressible spring support of section C. In practice, the rod-like frameelements are resilient and the terminal free end of each extension isturned or bent into an eye for the reception of a similar eye of thenext adjacent section B.

With the depressible and semi-rigid frame sections that are freelyextended and have coupling means incorporated therein, as hereinabovedescribed, an assembly thereof is made as shown in FIG. 2 (springs 18,28 and 38 being omitted for clarity). The three otherwise independentsections are hingedly coupled by the interengaged eyes to articulate onthe two transverse axes as indicated.

Referring now to the padding D (and E) and also the cover F: Generally,ordinary materials such as cotton batting, burlap, muslin and foamplastic are used in constructing the paddings D and E, and the cover Fcan be any high grade cotton ticking or the like. The padding D isprovided to overlie the frame sections A, B and C and comprises acushion and a heavy burlap layer is interposed between the framesections A, B and C and the padding D, and the cover F is the usualenvelope that encloses the bedding or mattress. It is preferred that thecover F be without buttons or ties as is clearly illustrated.

The mattress frame hereinabove described is especially suited tohospital bedding where substantial bending is required at theestablished bend lines between sections A, B and C. Said sections arewell established as to size and the inner-springs of the mattress iscapable of articulation at these bends, with freedom and withoutdeleterious effects upon the mattress as a unit. The section A has arigid rectangular underframe comprised of the rails 14- 17, while theoverframe thereof is comprised of the rails 11-13 and characterized byan open and unencumbered foremost end. Likewise, the rearmost end of thesection B is open and unencumbered where it adjoins the section A, andat this point of joinder the adjacent rows of springs 18 and 28 arespaced by virtue of the extended free ends of the rails. Therefore, eachpair of adjacent springs 18 and 28 i joined by an interconnectinghelical tension spring and to the end that there is continuity in theunderlying spring support beneath the padding D. The section B has arigid underframe comprised of rails 24-27, while its overframe iscompletely uninhibited with its two independent side rails. Further, theunderframe of section B also reinforces the open rearmost end of theunderframe of section C. The section C has a rigid rectangular overframecomprised of the rails 31-34. The frame, as a whole, is an inner-springfor a mattress that can articulate, and wherein each section thereof isespecially suited for the support of that portion of a person which isto lie thereon. For such reasons, and not considering the uppermostsupporting surface of the mattress, the section A is devoid of a forwardrail, and the section B is devoid of both forward and rear rails, whilethe section C is complete with forward and rear rails. The springs ofthe three sections are separated so as not to interfere with each other,while the void between sections A and B is spanned by theinterconnecting springs 100. The rail 34, section C, occurs beneath theknees of the person and presents a definite point of flexture.

r As a result, an inner-spring hospital mattress is provided and whichis adequately framed so as to be durable as well as comfortable.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of myinvention, 1 do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specificdetails herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself anymodifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the artand fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An inner-spring mattress comrising a plurality of normally horizontaland inclinably relatable sections and each with its own independentspring frame, each of said spring frames having side rails withtransverse rows of vertically disposed spring coils, there being acommon padding overlying the said sections and supported by said springcoils, and said adjacent spring frames being hingedly coupled by meansof the side rails that are extended and pivotally joined end to end on atransverse axis at the plane of support beneath the padding.

2. An inner-spring mattress as set forth in claim 1 wherein the siderails are extended from the last row of spring coils of each sectionrespectively, leaving a void between the sections, and wherein said voidis spanned by support members connected between the complementary springcoils of said two sections.

3. An inner-spring mattress as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of thesection frames has an underframe comprised of rectangularly relatedrails and has an overframe comprised of side rails joined by an end railand open between said rails at the opposite end thereof, and whereinsaid one of the section frames is coupled to another section frame thathas an underframe and has an overframe comprised of independent siderails, the rows of spring coils extending between the underframes andoverframes respectively, and wherein the side rails of the overframes ofboth said sections are extended from the last row of spring coils ofeach section respectively and pivotally joined leaving a void betweensections, and wherein said void is spanned by support members connectedbetween the spring coils of said two sections.

4. An inner-spring mattress as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of thesection frames has a rigid underframe comprised of rectangularly relatedrails and has an overframe comprised of side rails joined by an end railand open between said rails at the opposite end thereof, and whereinsaid one of the section frames is coupled to another section frame thathas a rigid underframe and has an overframe of independent side rails,the rows of spring coils extending between the underframes andoverframes respectively, the side rails of the overframes of both saidsection frames being extended and hingedly coupled, leaving a voidbetween sections, and wherein said void is spanned by support membersconnected between the spring coils of said two sections.

5. An inner-spring mattress as set forth in claim 1 wherein a firstsection frame has an underframe comprised of rectangularly related railsand has an overframe comprised of side rails joined by an end rail andopen between said rails at the opposite end thereof, wherein said firstsection frame is hingedly coupled to a second section frame that has anunderframe comprised of rectangularly related rails and has an overframecomprised of independent side rails, wherein said second section frameis hingedly coupled to a third section frame that has an underframe andan overframe comprised of side rails joined by an end rail and openbetween said rails at the opposite end thereof and has a rigid overframecomprised of rectangularly related rails, and wherein said secondsection frame is hingedly coupled to the third section frame, the rowsof spring coils extending between the underframes and overframesrespectively, and wherein the side rails of the overframes of thehingedly coupled sections are extended from the last row of spring coilsof each section respectively and pivotally joined leaving a void betweensections, and wherein said void between the first and second sections isspanned by support members connected between the complementary springcoils of said two sections.

6. An inner-spring mattress as set forth in claim 1 wherein a firstsection frame has a rigid underframe comprised of rectangularly relatedrails and has an overframe comprised of side rails joined by an end railand open between said rails at the opposite end thereof, wherein saidfirst section frame is hingedly coupled to a second section frame thathas a rigid underframe comprised of rectangularly related rails and hasan overframe comprised of independent side rails, wherein said secondsection frame is hingedly coupled to a third section frame that has asubstantially rigid underframe comprised of side rails joined by an endrail and open between said rails at the opposite end thereof and has arigid overframe comprised of rectangularly related rails, and whereinsaid second section frame is hingedly coupled to the third sectionframe, the rows of spring coils extending between the underframes andoverframes respectively, and wherein the side rails of the overframes ofthe hingedly coupled sections are extended from the last row of springcoils of each section respectively and pivotally joined leaving a voidbetween sections, and wherein said void between the first and secondsections is spanned by support members connected between thecomplementary spring coils of said two sections.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,099,843 8/ 1963Simon 5-351 3,111,690 11/1963 Tarlow 5351 3,249,952 5/1966 Janapol 5345X FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Examiner.

1. AN INNER-SPRING MATTRESS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF NORMALLYHORIZONTAL AND INCLINABLY RELATABLE SECTIONS AND EACH WITH ITS OWNINDEPENDENT SPRING FRAME, EACH OF SAID SPRING FRAMES HAVING SIDE RAILSWITH TRANSVERSE ROWS OF VERTICALLY DISPOSED SPRING COILS, THERE BEING ACOMMON PADDING OVERLYING THE SAID SECTIONS AND SUPPORTED BY